Automatic veneer laying machine



Sept, 3%, 1958 R. c. RYDBERG ET AL 2,854,153

AUTOMATIC VENEER LAYING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6. 1956 INVENTOR. RUDOLPH C. RYDBERG BY EMIL A. HERMAN ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1958 R. C. RYDBERG ET AL AUTOMATIC VENEER LAYING MACHINE on mm 6 1 R N W m R. E W. t I]: O E w on w M R mm A\ m ENE S QN V H Y S N E M A KM 1C V. N m H H H A m s i 9 P T 5 w. m ..H T I: A w W U I R v V: J B 4 u mm wN/ MN O w /4 a 1 u 4v I r 7 y =3 ii on E K 0 mm Filed June 6, 1956 p 30, 1953 R. c. RYDBERG ETAL 2,854,153

AUTOMATIC VENEER LAYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 6. 1956 IN VEN TOR.

C. RYDBERG A. HERMAN RUDOLPH EMIL BY ATTORNEYS United States The present invention relates to an automatic veneer laying machine for laminating veneer in the manufacturing of plywood.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine that will lay the core and face sheets, one On top of the other, in the proper sequence for fabricating various thicknesses of plywood board.

Heretofore laying and assembling of core and face veneer sheets in the manufacturing or fabricating of plywood has all been done by a hand process, which has proved very slow in the production of plywoood.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine that will fabricate plywood with greater precision and less waste.

This new and improved veneer laying machine is used in conjunction with equipment constructed in accordance with our now pending application on Veneer Joining Edge Staplers, Serial No. 575,821, filed April 3, 1956. In our new and improved veneer joining edge stapler a uniform sheet of core veneer approximately 4' x 8 in dimensions is delivered into the glue applicator, from where it is delivered onto the veneer laying machine comprising the instant invention. The core veneer sheets are delivered from the glue machine into our new and improved veneer laying machine.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of our new automatic veneer laying machine shown located at the delivery end of a standard glue machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a selective gear box assembly with this machine, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detail view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of one of the veneer carrying units, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged detail side sectional view of the fingers for gripping the veneer sheets to be stacked.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatical layout of some of the elements of the machine, including the wiring diagram of the controls for operating the machine.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal crosssection taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

atent O p Figure 12 is a side view of the T bar actuating switch.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures,,the reference numerals 20 and 21 indicate a pair of parallelly spaced square shaped tubular units for carrying veneer sheets from one end of the machine to the other, and are mounted upon leg supports 22. Endless chains 23 run throughout the length of the units 20 and 21 and are trained about driving sprockets 24 at their one end and over idler sprockets 25 at their opposite ends. The driving sprockets 24 are keyed to a cross shaft 26, which is journalled within the units 20 and 21 and is driven from the glue machine G by any suitable means, such as a chain 27. The chains 23 have special transverse brackets 28 formed thereon and are adapted to have fingers 29 slidably mounted thereon within bearings 30.

The fingers 29 extend inwardly towards the center of the machine at 31 and have heads 32 formed on their opposite ends, referring particularly to Figure 6. The fingers 29 are pushed towards the inner part of the machine to the position shown particularly in Figures 1 and 6 by cams 33. After the lower run of the chain 23 leaves the sprockets 24 it is moved away from the glue machine G, the forward edge of the veneer has entered in alignment with the lower run of the chain 23 and is being carried therealong by the fingers 29 to the left end of the machine as will be more fully described later.

.The veneer being carried by the fingers 29 from the glue machine G includes only the core veneer stock after the glue has been applied thereto.

Referring to Figure 4, located under the units 20 and 21 is a scissor type platform hoist 34 adapted to receive both the core and face veneer stock when delivered thereon. The core veneer is released from the fingers 29 at a predetermined time to be dropped on the platform hoist 34. This is accomplished by withdrawing the fingers 29 from under the core veneer completely along the under run of the chains 23.

Referring to Figure 6, shafts 35 run longitudinally of the units 20 and 21 and are journalled therein by suitable bearings. Afiixed to this shaft is an elongated lever 36. Located at one end of the shaft 35 is an electric solenoid 37 whose core is pivotally connected to the lever 38 forming part of the shaft 35. When the solenoid 37 is energized it will rotate the elongated lever 36 in the direction of the arrow, pulling against the heads 32 of the rods 29, pulling the rods 29 into the position shown on the upper run of the chain 23, dropping the sheet of veneer onto the platform 34 on a stack 39 of material. The lever 36 is returned to its starting position by the action of a spring 40.

Feferring to Figures 1, 4 and 5, face veneer sheets 41 are stock piled upon a platform scissor hoist 42, which is adapted to be raised by self contained means provided Within this type of hoist for raising the stock pile as the same is being used. The face veneer 41 is removed from the stock pile by one or more sheets at a time and transferred across the upper side of the units 20 and 21 by the mechanism to be described.

Referring to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 9, a "1 bar assembly T consisting of an elongated inverted rack 43 having a T or cross head member 44 formed on one of its ends is adapted to move back and forth in regards to the machine. The oppositely disposed end of the rack 43 is adapted to be supported upon a pinion 45 journalled within a bracket 46 of the framework 47 of the machine.

The pinion 45 is keyed to a shaft 48 and is adapted to be rotated in either direction by the shaft 48. A hold down roller 49 is adapted to hold the rack 43 in contact with the pinion 45. The cross member 44 of the T mounted to the transverse members 44. The fingers 53] are pivotally mounted to the arms 54 and 55 by disk typ' e hubs 56. The hubs 56 arerfixedly secured to a crank shaft 57, the shaft 57 forming a pivot for the finger assembly F.

Extending upwardly from the arms 54 are brackets 58. The brackets 58 are adapted to support one ,of the ends of the spring 59, as best illustrated in FiguresjS and 7. The opposite end of the spring 59 is adapted to '.be pivotally connected to .the pin 60'.of the crank shaft 57. This is an over-center type of arrangement. When in the position shown in Figure 5, the fingers 53 will be held in contact with the fingers 52, and while in the position shown in Figure 7, the fingers 53 will be held out of engagement with the fingers 52. A stop 56Ais carried by the hub 56 in position to engage the arm 54 to limit the downward movementof the finger 53. v

.The T bar assembly T is shown in our drawings in the position in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 8, all gripping -a sheet of face veneer 41 by the finger assemblies F. In Figure 7 the fingers F are shown in released or'open position travelling in the direction of the arrow.

A cross member 61 bridges the space between the units and 21 and is adapted for supporting the face sheet of plywood 41 while being brought into stackingv position. A pawl 6 5 is formed integral with the disk hub 56 of the fingers 53 and as the finger assembly F moves in the direction of the arrow, the pawl 65 will strike the stop 66 which will move the fingers 53 towards the fingers 52 and gripping the end 67 of the face veneer 41, the

spring '59 pulling the crank pin 60 over its centerline, and to the opposite side of this center line, as shown in Figure 5, causing the fingers 52 and 53 to grip the end 67 of the veneer 41 tightly.

We will now describe the mechanism for operating the T bar assembly T. The shaft 48 is driven in the desired direction from the drive gear assembly D, referring to Figures 1 and 2. A counter shaft 68 is journalled with:

in suitable bearings 69 within the gear box D. Splined.

to the counter shaft 68 is a slidable double clutch member 70. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 68- is a sprocket 71 and a spur gear 72. Teeth 73 are formed on the sprocket 71 and teeth 74 are formed on the gear 72 and are adapted to be selectively engaged with the jaws 75 of the clutch element 70.

The counter shaft 68 isdriven from the shaft 26 of the machine by a chain drive 76 through a driven sprocket 77 and a driving sprocket 78.

The element 75 is moved into engagement with either the sprocket 71 or the gear. 72 by a yoke 79, which is pivotally mounted to the case of the gear box D at 80, and is operated by the electric solenoid 81 in either direction. The shaft 48 and its associated pinion gear 45 is rotated in one direction from the counter shaft 48 by the spur gear 72 and a spur gear 82 when the jaws 75 of the clutch element 70 are engaged within the teeth 74 of the gear 72. The rack 43 is moved longitudinally of the machine 'by the pinion 45 associated with the shaft 48, which is driven in one direction.

The shaft 48 is driven in the opposite direction by the counter shaft 68 by the jaws 75 of the clutch element 70 engaging the teeth 73 of the sprocket 71. This in turn drives the sprocket 83, which will drive the shaft 48 in the opposite direction to that driven by the gear 72. Referring to Figure 1, vertical guide stops 84 and 85 position the veneer of the stack 39 when being discharged from the machine.

Referring to Figures 1 to be actuated by the forwardedge 88 of the core veneer moving towards the switch 86.- The switch 86 controls electric energy into the clutch solenoid 81 through the winding 89.

A switch 90 is fixedly secured to the machine and is adapted to be contacted by the forward edge 91 of the core veneer at the end of its travel previous to 'being released onto the pile of veneer 39 from the fingers.29.;

The switch 90 energizes the solenoid 37 which releases the fingers 29 from under the core veneer 39, asabove described.

A switch 92 is fixedly secured to the frame of the machine at its opposite end, and is adapted to stop the travel of the T bar assemblyT after it releases the face veneer 41 to be dropped on the pile of stock 39,- atthe same'time that the core veneer'has been released by the fingers 29.

the pinion 45 and the shaft 48 moves the rack 43 to its 8 startingpositioh, as indicated in Figures 1, 4 and 5, by the above described .clutchoperating mechanism.

We will .now describe how this new "and improved veneer laying machine operates; at the right hand of the machine from the glue machine G. The fingers 29 are extended beyond the inner sides of the units 20 and 21 on the lower run of the chain 23 by the action of the cams '33 contactingthe heads 32of the fingers '29 pushing them forward. The core sheetof '1 veneer is then supported on top of the fingers 29 as they travel in the direction of the arrow to the' left of the machine. j

7 On reaching the broken line point 88, referring'to Figures land 10, the forward end 88 of the veneercloses'j the switch 86. This will energize the winding 89 of the operating solenoid 81, referring. to Figures 1, 2 and 10 e111; gaging the jaws 75 of the double clutch 70 into' thetee'th 73' of the gear 72. This will revolve the. shaft48 in one direction, namely to pull the T bar assembly T to the right pawl 65 of the finger 53 will strike therstop 94, which .Will Y open the fingers F .and permit the veneer to drop down into the guides and into the guides 84 on the opposite end of the machine. forward edge 91 of the core sheet of veneer, referringto Figures 1 and 10, will close the switch which will withdraw the fingers 29 from under the'veneer core sheet allowing the samevto drop down onto the pile39 of,

veneer, including the face veneer above described being drawn across the. machine by the fingers F.

When the fingers F were opened by the stop 94, the switch 92 was closed by the wheel 50, referring to Figures 3 and 10. This energized the .coil 93 of-the solenoid 81 which disengages the clutch element venom thegear 72 and engages the same with the sprocket'71. This will reverse the direction of travel of the T assembly 'I,-

moving the same in the direction of the arrow to its loading position. When the finger assembly F of the T element reaches the end of its travel, as shown in Figure 5, one

of the trunnion wheels 50 will close the switch 95 which 1 will energize the coil 96 of the solenoid 81 neutralizing the clutch 70 stopping the rotation of the shaft 48 until the next cycle ofoperation.

As stated above, when the T assembly T reaches the starting point as illustrated in Figure 5, the stop 66 on the frame of the machine will engage the pawl 65 closing thefingers-53 against the underside of theend 67 of the face veneer gripping the end 67 between the fingers 52-and 53.

and 10, a microswitch 86 is mounted partway between the ends of the elements201 and 21 to one of the elements 20 and 21 and is adapted The switch 92 energizes the'coil '93 of the clutch solenoid 81 reversing the direction of rotation of The veneer cores enter a At the same time this happens, the

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic veneer laying machine comprising a frame, an adjustable stack support positioned in said frame, means mounted on said frame for gripping and conveying a sheet of face veneer across said frame to a position overlying said stack support, means on said frame for conveying a core veneer across said frame to a position overlying said stack support and in aligned relationwith said face veneer, means on said frame actuated by movement of said veneer for controlling the movement of said conveying means, and means on said frame for delivering said core veneer and said faceveneer to said stack support simultaneously.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said face veneers are positioned at one end of said machine and said core veneers are positioned at the other end of said machine with said conveying means moving said face veneer and said core veneer oppositely into position for delivery onto said stack support.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gripping and conveying means includes a pair of pivoted jaws, and resilient means adapted when in one position to hold said jaws open and in the opposite position to hold said jaws closed.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said jaws are carried by a pinion driven rack bar.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein means are provided on said frame for moving said means for holding said jaws open and closed to the first position, and a second means on said frame for moving said jaw holding means to said opposite position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,598,381 Makowski Aug. 31, 1926 1,940,154 Sylva Dec. 19, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,623 Finland May 31, 1954 885,549 France May 31, 1943 

